Lee Ryan claims he was assaulted on a flight this weekend (Picture: Getty)
Blue star Lee Ryan has claimed he was ‘physically assaulted’ by a male passenger while on a flight this weekend.
The singer released a statement, explaining that the alleged incident occurred as he was travelling from Georgia to Istanbul, Turkey with Turkish Airlines.
He wrote on the band’s official Twitter page: ‘While on a flight from Georgia to Istanbul, Turkey with Turkish Airlines today (Saturday 8 July 2023), Lee Ryan was physically assaulted by a male passenger.
‘Lee and the rest of the band, defended him from the attack, which continued after the plane had landed when the passenger pushed Lee down a flight of stairs causing an injury to his leg.
‘Both parties were spoken to by the police in Turkey and to which Lee voluntarily gave a victim statement supported by the band.
‘Lee was not at any point arrested, detained or charged with any offence and after giving his statement, was free to continue his journey.’
Lee’s bandmates are said to have defended him during the attack (Picture: S Meddle/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)
The statement concluded: ‘The assault occurred after Lee had put his feet on the seat which was considered culturally insensitive and for which Lee has apologised for any unknowing offence caused.’
Fans in the replies sent their well wishes, wishing for a speedy recovery for the All Rise hitmaker.
Others noted that this isn’t the first incident Lee has made headlines with involving planes.
In January, the 39-year-old was found guilty of being drunk on an aircraft and assaulting a police officer by biting him after hurling racially abusive language at a Black flight attendant.
During the trial, the court also heard how he told the female cabin crew member: ‘I want your chocolate children,’ and asked to kiss him while drunk on a British Airways flight from Glasgow to London in July 2022.
In court, the star stated: ‘I’m not racist.’
He insisted that his comments were ‘drunk banter’ and that there was no malice or intention to upset anyone.
The pop star is currently awaiting sentencing but he has appealed his conviction.
Earlier this year, he claimed that he had received bad advice about pleading guilty from his lawyer, Mike Rainford.
Keima Payton, representing Lee, told a magistrate that her client suffered from autistic spectrum disorder and had ‘slow processing skills’, leading to ‘impairments in understanding what is said to him’, according to a psychological report.
She said that text messages sent by Lee on the day of the hearing showed that he was made to feel like he ‘had to’ plead guilty by Mr Rainford, ‘even though he [Pc Bryett] grabbed my neck’.
Lee was found guilty of using racially abusive language towards a Black flight attendant earlier this year (Picture: Images/GC Images) Photographer: GC Images Provider: GC Images Source: GC Images
It was also claimed by her that body-worn footage that might have helped him claim self-defence had not been presented to Lee until shortly before his court appearance, meaning he was unable to properly consider it.
As the trial continues, Lee has kept a low profile from public life.
He did, however, share a message on social media in February, apologising for missing messages as he had been ‘travelling and living life’.
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Lee claims he was pushed down a flight of stairs.